Leg 200, Pagan Island, Northern Mariana Islands via Guam to Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
DAY03_10.PLN (3.2 KB)
Anoher milestone reached, day 200 on my 80 day tour of the world… More interesting islands today with a lot of WW2 remnants and one mysterious ancient civilization.
03-09 Pagan Airstrip TT01 5:24 PM
03-09 Francisco C Ada/Saipan Intl 6:33 PM
03-09 Tinian Intl PGWT 6:39 PM
03-09 Anderson Afb PGUA 7:12 PM
03-09 Guam Intl PGUM 7:22 PM 487nm next 15 knot headwind
03-09 Chuuk Intl PTKK 10:56 PM 380nm next 12 knot headwind
03-10 Pohnpei Intl PTPN 1:34 AM
Flight time 8:10 6 stops
Departing from Pagan airstrip, getting a good look at how close I came last night to the edge of the water, stopped next to the little building. That pesky tree line popping up in the landing lights last minute threw me off. Why leave a line of trees at the end of runways!
Pagan Island, nice place
Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth of the United States
From front to back, Banzai Cliff, USA veterans cemetery and Suicide cliff
Banzai cliff and Suicide cliff is where thousands of Japanese civilians and soldiers lept to their death to avoid capture by the US in 1944 at the end of the Battle of Saipan
Suicide cliff and the Last Japanese Command Post on the right
Also here the Korean Peace Memorial to commemorate the approximately 1,000 Koreans who were killed on Saipan during the Battle of Saipan
Further along the island there’s an abandoned Pacific Barrier Radar III
It’s on the hill in front on the right
Here on the far right (Pacifir Barrier Radar III)
On the left American Memorial Park and scenes from the WW2 Museum about the battle of Saipan
Next to painful history there is also natural beauty to discover, The Grotto, popular diving destination
Francisco C Ada/Saipan International Airport
On to Guam, a U.S. island territory in Micronesia. Anderson Air Force Base
Guam is the westernmost point and territory of the United States in Oceania, it is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia
Flying by Puntan Dos Amantas
Which means Two Lover’s Point
Tumon Bay
Landing at Guam International Airport
A peek into Guam Museum
And on to the next island
Dodging clouds on the way to Chuuk
Under or over, just rather not through
Arriving at Chuuk State, Patta Island left and Polle Island on the right
Chuuk is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Tol Island, west side of Chuuk Lagoon
Uman Island on the southeast side
Roro to the North of Uman island
Here you can find abandoned Japanese buildings and caves
All these islands house remnants from WW2
Moen, my destination where the airport is
Also here abandoned Japanese guns and a WW2 lighthouse
Weno on the northwest end the island
Landing at Chuuk International Airport
My landing went a bit better than Air Niugini’s in 2018, short of the runway in Chuuk Lagoon
Next to Pohnpei state, here Tenwen island on the southeast side of Pohnpei island
Nan Madol on Tenwen island
Nan Madol, ruins of an ancient city, the capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty until about 1628
Not much is known about the civilization that build Nan Madol
Landing at Pohnpei International Airport
Sokehs rock on the left, visible on approach (but clouds on the aerial images)
And also more left overs from WW2 and on the right Kepirohi Waterfall
More of Micronesia tomorrow.